...but before those, it would have been rude not to try the malt made at the very distillery we'd just visited...and heck, while we're at it, why not try the entire standard age range - 12, 18 and 25? When the 25yo is around $25AUD ($155HKD) for a dram, why not indeed?

Yamazaki 18yo (43% ABV, 18yo, Japan, $399AUD / $2,680HKD)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Colour: Deep copper-goldNose: Rich sherried notes. Christmas cake, with strawberries on the side.Palate: Thinner than expected. Spicy. Slight peppery. Quite malty and slightly oaky.Finish: Long and dry. Some leathery notes.Rating (on my very non-scientific scale): 89/100. Very different to the 12. More complex, without a doubt, but I think I prefer 12 overall.

Yamazaki 25yo (43% ABV, 18yo, Japan, Not currently available in AU / $16,800HKD)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Colour: Dark, dark (DARK!) copper. Look at it!Nose: Rich thick chewy Christmas cake. Raisins soaked in sherry for days. Put simply - Christmas in a glass.Palate: Slightly earthy at first. Then raisins and fruit compote, and still loads of Christmas cake. This dram has soaked up every inch of Sherry notes from the cask over its long 25 years. At a guess, I'd say ex-Oloroso.Finish: Drying, oaky, with some malt. Medium to long finish. Dry to the end. Rating (on my very non-scientific scale): 91/100. Not an every day dram. Big, intense, special. All the hallmarks of a big sherry bomb.